HOOVER, Alabama - It didn't take long for Mississippi State linebacker
Benardrick McKinney to emerge as a big-time player in college football.

As a redshirt freshman, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound McKinney had 102 tackles - sixth in the SEC - with 4.5 going for a loss and one sack.

He was a freshman All-American and his name is all over preseason all-conference teams and watch lists. He was also one of just a few sophomores to make the trip to SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel.

"I was very surprised," McKinney said. "It's a great honor to be here. Coach (Dan) Mullen's a great coach and a daddy figure. Everybody trusted me, so it's a great honor."

McKinney will likely be the face of the defense as a sophomore after the Bulldogs lost cornerbacks Johnthan Banks and Darius Slay to graduation. He's ready to step up as a leader, though he said leadership will come from the defense as a whole.